Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-01-07
1t follows that the farmers feel and have q

II IL especially desirable In this state. where
the chief industry IL agriculture, that the
transportation rutes be as low as IL consistent
with u fair return on the actual capital In
vested in the roads. Indeed IT. IL questionable
II the original cost OF road furnishes GER
tain criterion of what it should be allowed to
earn, or by which to fix i,s rates. Values Of
other kinds Of property fuctuatc. and railroad
property IL NO exception to the rule. IL raj :
roads can he constructed and equipped ut from
30 to 30 per cent less now than prior
to 1878. does 1t follow that the old roads
should be allowed TO charge from 80
to 50 per cent. more than the new ones,
constructed ut nnchle.s COST could reason.
ably charge! 1t should be the policy
Of the state to secure for its great pro-
ducing classes the cheapest rates possible with
consistency and justice 10 the other interests
involved.
The railroad and warehouse commissioners
have reported to you certain proposed ]egi-la-
ton OF great importance. already referred 10
and commented on by Gov. Hubbard, which l
doubt not will receive yonr earnest considers
ton lam sure you will be glad to adopt any
changes or amendments In the railroad and
grain laws which will contribute to their eff
cheney and to the usefulness OF the commits
sion, aud shall not treapass on your time to
call attention to them In detail.
TAXATION OF RAILROADS.
IL appears plain lDdC new ana Qeunlte leSR.
lation is needed ON the subject Of railroad tax
alton. The commissioners seem 10 be in
doubt concerning the liability Of any railroad
company, which has not formally accepted the
provisions OF the law OF March. 1873, relating
to the taxation of the St. Paul, Saltwater s.
Taylor's Falls Rsilroad company to even pay
aper centum Of its earnings, In lieu Of taxes,
upder exciting legislation. This liability
should be so definitely settled that there could
hn oh~r II tn T no
desirable that the whole subject be inquired
into by the Legislature. and q plain and con-
eisteDt law enacted. The law In
force is 20 indefinite and obscure that several
enits have already been carried to the supreme
court for . construction of its meaning. Be-
sides, 1t is we'll known that the intention OF
the law 10 being continually abused by railroad
companies. mean tbat feature Of it which
imposes tax on new roads ofbut per centum
on gross earnings for the first three years,
per centum during the next seven years, and
q per centum thereafter. As result OF the
favor shown In the law to new roads, the spurs
and branches built for the old roads, Is d.
rect part of their systems and regularly oper-
ated with them IS part OF one
property or railroad, are, as . rule: built
by new corporations for the sake OF the ex-
emption extended to new roads. In this way
1t happens that while the gross earnings in the
state for the past year increased S258, 095 .S2,
the taxes, or percentage In lien of taxes, de-
creased &, $40 90. In view Of these facts, and
Of the large amount Of property held by the
railroad companies exempt from taxation. I
recommend that the Law be amended 90 Is to
compel all railroad lines hereafter TO be built
and operated to pay to the state the full three
per centum on their gross earnings, in lieu OF
taxes, from the etart.
TAXATION OF RAILROAD LANDS.
The large quantities OF lands held BY the
various railroad companies free from taxation
is . subject which has attracted the attention
Of the people Of the state. There is An evil
dent impression in the minds Of many that
some action can or ought to be taken looking
to the taxation of such lands. They lie
largely in the more eparsely settled portions Of
the state, where the people are struggling
Agsintt great odds to make homes for them.
selves and their posterity. Court houses and
other county buildings are to be erected and
paid for; school houses built and schools
maintained; roads opened and worked-in
short, all the necessary sdjnncts to q thriving
comm unity are to be called into being by the
efforts and money of the hardy pioneer.
Every other section. or more perhaps, Of the
land in the county or district in which he has
settled belongs to some one Of these giant
corporations, and is held by 1t freed from any
liability to contribute farthiDg TO the i'm
provement which IL constantly and rapidly
enhancing the value Of it's holdings. The
question Of the taxabiliry of these lands has
been in number of cases and in different
forms before our supreme court. In almost
every such instance the state has been met
with the provisions contained in the charters
OF these companies which grant immunity
from taxation until q sale or conveyance of
such lands! It is for you to thoroughly in
vestigate the status Of such lands and see il
there is any way by which you can obtain re-
lief to the people in this matter. F.
GRAIN STORAGE By RAILROAD COMPANIES.
In connection with the legislation proposed
by the railroad aud warehouse commission,
would suggest for your consideration whether
1t is not both right and practicable that the
railway companies. which handle nearly all of
the grain raised for market in the state, should
not be required, when not receiving the same
into cars directly upon delivery to them. to
furnish storage for 1t in elevators or grain
houses at the stations where the grain is re.
ceived for shipment, free Of expense to the
thipper. Is there any sound reason for max
ing grain an exception TO the general rule that
common carriers shall receive freight, and IL
not shipped ut once. shall furnish storage from
the time it Ia offered for shipment until ready to
be delivered to the consignee? That euch a
requirement would involve the cmpantes in
much expense aud no little in convenience at
first must be admitted. and If the system
should be inaugurated q reasonable time
should certainly be given the companies 10
furnish suitable storage structures. The pro-
posed plan might, to a limited extent, displace
elevators and grain houses now employed by
other companies or persons. but doubt II It's
effect In this direction would be material. The
greater part OF the grain now received by such
houses is not delivered for transportation, but
10 either sold for cash or receipts ara taken by
the producer with intent to cell at future day
and without shipping from the receiving STA
ton. Were the plan suggested to be put In
operation It 10 not perez lived that 1t would
INTERFERE WITH THE FACILITIES FOR BUYING,
receiving or storing OF grain wherever such
traffic IL or could be carried on, but it would
stimulate railroad companies to pro.
vide, as far A. possible, the necessary cars for
tho immediate shipment OF grain 40 offered.
No grain. OF course, would be delivered to the
but such rs the owners desired to
have immediately shipped. The most obvious
reason for making grain an exception to the
rule In sections where raised In great abund-
nj d hot thn h,ly o( Nha intop daI fpr